Health Issues Of Sporting Group Hunting Dogs
?When purchasing good hunting dog breeds, each breed will have their own particular health risk. Also, each will have their own particular exercise need to prevent any health problems from arising. So lets look at a few of the major and most popular hunting dogs bred and sold for the specific area of hunting. And it needs to be mentioned that most of the hunting dogs should have straight front legs, with the rear wide and straight, and a slight varying of angulations in the back legs depending on the breed type of the specific dog.
Labrador Retrievers are extremely popular over-all hunting dogs in the Sporting Group, with a number one ranking in the AKC. Originally an all-purpose water known from Newfoundland, it was known as the "St. John's" Newfoundland in the 1800s. A working retriever, it is upper moderate on the energy level but high on the playfulness, affection, friendliness toward other pets, dogs, and unfortunately, strangers that are welcomed by their owners in the home. But it is of a high level watch dog when required.
[nms:hunting dogs,4,0,200,hunting]
The major health concerns for this breed are CHD, gastric torsion, retinal dysplasia/skeletal dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, and elbow dysplasia. Minor concerns are cataracts, OCD, CPRA, pyotraumatic dermatitis. Diabetes, entropion, and distichiasis are occasionally seen throughout its 10-12 year life span of this favorite of hunting dog breeds.
The German Short-haired Pointer is extremely popular, also known as the German Short-haired Pointing Dog or Deutsch Kurzhaar. Rated 24 in the AKC ranking, it is part of their Sporting Group breed that requires a moderate amount of training in this hunting dogs group. A day hunting dog that can live from 12 to 14 years; it can become frustrated if not given adequate exercise mentally and physically. The major health concern for this breed is lymphedema, with minor concerns consisting of CHD, entropion, gastric torsion, vWD, pannus, OCD. The testing that should be done on the puppy, and checking on up-to-date testing in the parents, are in the hip, eye and blood area.
The Brittany is a cross between small land spaniels and an English Setter back in the 1800s. It has a rating of 33 in the AKC ranking and belongs to the Sporting Group. The leggiest of all the sporting hunting dog breeds, they require a high amount of exercise and are very easy to train. Health issues that are high are CHD, with minor concerns of epilepsy and lipfold pyoderma. Extrememly friendly, this hunting dog has a high affection level and watchdog level.
English Pointers, or just Pointers, go way back to the 17th centuries, used to point hare with Greyhounds finishing the hunt for a cooperation of hunting dogs of various styles. A ranking of 92 in AKC, it is high on energy, exercise, playfulness, affection, friendliness toward other dogs and pets, and watchdog ability levels. The major health risks are entropion, with CHD as a minor concern. Suggested testing for concern should be the hip and eye, with a proneness to tail-tip injuries.
